No Backpacks in Classrooms Policy

Students and teachers face off in this controversial topic

Grant Pepin, Staff Reporter

As a junior, I’ve had some experience with the many ups and downs that high school throws at its students. One of the recent downs is the No Backpack Policy that some teachers have implemented. This is the way teachers control what materials go in and out of their room. Instead of finding alternatives, teachers have merely dismissed a vital tool that students use for useful purposes. This methodology makes about as much sense as putting locks on cubbies; it negates the functionality entirely. By banning backpacks from classrooms, you are circumventing better alternatives, changing the way students conduct their days, and causing pain and strife between the student-teacher mentality. All just so that teachers can fight back against the “Dastardly” BYOD Policy.

Fact of the matter is, whenever a problem like mistreatment of backpacks pops up, the way to deal with that problem isn’t to force kids to give up a very useful tool for transporting materials. If the problem is phones, deal with phones. If it’s clutter, deal with clutter. There is always better ways to deal with problems than complete removal.

Backpacks allow students to find what they need and organize it ahead of time. In addition, they often have separate pockets for things like pencils and calculators, helping students find the materials they require in a matter of seconds. I know that backpacks have problems. Misuse, contraband, the “dreaded” phones. But there’s so many more positives that can be done with backpacks. Organization, Ease of access, and portability to name a few. By banning them from classrooms, you’re removing all the good that they bring along with their bad. Teachers should be finding ways to compromise, like organized bookbag piles or specific student exceptions. But forcing students to give up such a useful tool is not the way to go.

I agree that students do have enough time to visit the locker then get to class, but teachers don’t understand that we’re not all here just to chunk through our classes. We’re here to connect with others and learn more about ourselves and the world around us before we have to join society as adults. Students don’t just want to just go to their classes. They want to meet up with friends to talk and walk together. People use this time to socialize, not go to their lockers.

As a student, I want to try and change a problem that I see going on. No Backpack Policies have caused more bad than good. They cause an overlooking of opportunities, distorts social schedules, and makes students oppose their teachers.